Cruise

One thing I can tell you about river cruising is that it’s a relaxing way to see the world.

There is just something magical about it. Onboard the luxurious Scenic spaceship, we were treated to the slow-moving landscapes of the South of France. Imagine drifting through the waterways with idyllic vineyards, picturesque castles and quaint villages lining the riverbanks.

Our trip from Burgundy to Lyon was a gastronomic utopia with some of the most famous vineyards and Michelin-starred restaurants on the planet! The tours I chose were mostly all wine- and food-related since I wanted to learn more about the food culture of France. Burgundy alone has 31 restaurants with Michelin star ratings, while Lyon has 167 of them! So do buy a copy of the Michelin Guide and use it to unearth great restaurants on your free time.

Scenic offers a more meaningful experiential way to travel. Our itinerary included Lyon for exposure to the Food Capital of France, the Burgundy region for wine tasting, the Paul Bocuse Institute for a lesson in French cuisine, and even Tournus for truffle hunting with the hounds!

SCENIC LUXURY CRUISE & TOURS is a world-renowned luxury cruise and tour operator famed for its unique blend of five-star service at an all-inclusive fare, covering even luxuries you would expect to pay for!

I understand now why Scenic cruises has continued to be a favourite in the river cruising scene: besides the 5-star experience, cruisers also appreciate the tours that take the scenic route without rushing passengers from one shore to the next.

In case you haven’t considered it as an option for your next holiday, we have come up with 10 reasons why you should take a river cruise with Scenic…

Royal Caribbean made a double historic ship call in the Philippines last June 8 in Subic and June 9 in Manila. Ovation of the Seas is the largest cruise ship and the first ship of its kind with the highest number of guests (4,700) from around the world to call in any Filipino port.

Ovation of the Seas is Asia’s largest and most revolutionary cruise ship. The 1,138 feet long behemoth of a floating destination—equipped with 2,091 staterooms, 18 restaurants and 8 pools—can host 4,905 guests and carry 1,500 crew members for a total of 6,405 people!

The high-tech ship also boasts of exciting features that include North Star, a 300-ft high viewing capsule with roller skating, bumper cars, skydiving & surfing simulators and robotic bartenders at the Bionic Bar.

Star Cruises is now offering visa-free tours to two of Asia’s hottest summer destinations. This year, Star Cruises’ SuperStar Virgo will call Manila her home port from April until May.

The 5-day cruise takes you to Taiwan and Japan without the hassle of securing a visa.

The SuperStar Virgo is a 13-deck luxury cruise ship with 935 cabins including ‘sea-view’ and balcony suites.

There are a wide variety of international restaurants that range from; Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Western, and an al fresco bar.

The ship also has a number of facilities such as Duty-Free shops, jewelry boutiques, a salon, a spa and gym, karaoke rooms, a child’s activity center, a game room, and a two-level theater that can comfortably seat 800 guests.

Outdoor activities include a 100-meter mega slide, an outdoor swimming pool, mini golf course, and a calendar of themed activities.

The world’s largest cruise ship is the answer to your ultimate family vacation!

Royal Caribbean’s SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS, is a 1,188-foot behemoth floating destination complete with 22 restaurants, 24 pools, 2,759 cabins that can host 6,680 guests — plus 2,200 crew members with a total of nearly 9,000 people.

And that’s not even the exciting stuff. The ship is a theme park itself equipped with the tallest slide at sea, laser tag arena, merry-go-round, rock climbing wall, two surf simulators and even a zip-line on deck! Who said cruise ships aren’t cool?

There’s plenty for adults to enjoy too, as the epicness doesn’t stop there with daily entertainment from Broadway’s hit musical Hairspray, aqua shows, ice shows, and even a bar with robot bartenders!

With literally something for everyone, here’s what to expect on this mega-resort…

The Tokyo Helicopter cruise is a fun and exciting way to see the beautiful city of Tokyo!

The 15minute ride takes you 600 meters high above the skyline, where you can enjoy the cites beautiful landmarks like Mt Fuji fading away in the background, or the famed Tokyo Sky Tree that darts from the ground like a neo-futuristic beacon made of steel and shimmering lights.

It’s exciting hopping on a cruise for the first time and discovering what’s inside the gigantic vessel that floats across the sea is an adventure itself!

VOYAGER OF THE SEAS by ROYAL CARIBBEAN is a 15 decker cruise line that can fit up to 4,269 passengers that sails from Australia to the South Pacific shore. It features ten pools and whirlpools, ice-skating rinks, rock-climbing walls and a FlowRider surfing simulator, and several dining options that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

If you’re looking to swim in the Great Barrier Reefs of Australia, see the surreal landscapes of New Zealand or discover more of Asia this cruise line might fit you.

Here’s a photo essay of the top 8 highlights onboard Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas…

Voyager of the Seas offers two of their favorite specialty dining restaurants from the Royal Caribbean cruises CHOPS GRILLE the signature steakhouse and GIOVANNI’S TABLE offering family-style Italian dishes.

Guests can enjoy a more intimate dining away from the masses while indulging in higher-quality dishes with their excellent selection of signature dry-aged steaks, fresh seafood and made from scratch Italian favorites like pasta, bread, and dessert!

While Windjammer, Cafe Promenade, and Saphire are part of the cruise package, specialty restaurants include an additional fee of ($35) for Chop’s Grille and ($20) for Giovanni’s Table. Guest on the ship will find it enticing for its “all you can eat” menus and pampered dining experience.

Mall of Asia complex is already an integral part of Aidan’s childhood memories. Every time we would go out, Aidan would say “go to SM” or “go to Mall of Asia”. I don’t want to sound like an endorser of SM but it is now part of our daily conversation with Aidan.

Another awesome addition in the MOA complex is the Metrostar Ferry Manila Bay Cruise. For P120, you can enjoy a one-hour round trip around Manila Bay. Aidan love boats too so having a one-hour ferry ride was awesome! Most of the Manila Bay cruises have disappeared already when the Manila Baywalk was cleaned up by Mayor Lim.

The Metro Ferry dock is located beside The Shrine of Jesus, The Way, The Truth and the Life (Church across Mall of Asia). I would recommend to take the sunset cruise (5.00pm) or the evening cruise (6.30pm) on Fri/Sat/Sun in time for the MOA fireworks.(I need to check the exact time again because the soft opening departure hours are different from the regular schedule. Please comment if you know the actual schedule.)

Mall of Asia complex is already an integral part of Aidan’s childhood memories. Every time we would go out, Aidan would say “go to SM” or “go to Mall of Asia”. I don’t want to sound like an endorser of SM but it is now part of our daily conversation with Aidan.

Another awesome addition in the MOA complex is the Metrostar Ferry Manila Bay Cruise. For P120, you can enjoy a one-hour round trip around Manila Bay. Aidan love boats too so having a one-hour ferry ride was awesome! Most of the Manila Bay cruises have disappeared already when the Manila Baywalk was cleaned up by Mayor Lim.

The Metro Ferry dock is located beside The Shrine of Jesus, The Way, The Truth and the Life (Church across Mall of Asia). I would recommend to take the sunset cruise (5.00pm) or the evening cruise (6.30pm) on Fri/Sat/Sun in time for the MOA fireworks.(I need to check the exact time again because the soft opening departure hours are different from the regular schedule. Please comment if you know the actual schedule.)